CricketViewer.com

Twin centuries to Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke put Australia in a terrific position at 4 for 476 at tea on the second day. The pair combined for a 245-run partnership that ensured Sri Lanka’s day went from miserable to dreadful; the visitors claimed 1 for 234 in the first two sessions.

Clarke was on 121 at the break with Andrew Symonds on 5, leaving the Australian dressing-room with only one problem to discuss - deciding when to declare and unleash their new-look attack on Sri Lanka. After 75 minutes were lost on the first morning the rain stayed away from the Gabba, but occasional showers are possible in the next few days and Ricky Ponting would have one eye on the forecast in making his decision.

Hussey fell 15 minutes before tea, driving Dilhara Fernando on the up to Marvan Atapattu at short cover. Atapattu clutched a good reflexive catch above his head but his celebrations were understandably restrained - Hussey had gone on to reach 133 after Atapattu dropped him at midwicket on 13.

Although Clarke and Hussey at times made it look like runs were coming easily it was hard going and they were forced to marshal their full concentration after ten months away from Test cricket. Both men played within themselves as they adjusted back to the longer version after Australia figured in 31 one-day internationals since their last Test.

Hussey was the first to reach triple-figures, passing the milestone with a pair of leg-glanced fours when Chaminda Vaas strayed too straight. His century came from 197 balls and ensured that his incredible Test average - it was 79.85 when the game started - did not suffer a dip.

He had persevered through an unusually defensive afternoon yesterday - he went to stumps with 28 from 82 balls - as Muralitharan tested his focus. Today Hussey became gradually more confident against the spin, picking the ball more easily out of Muralitharan’s hand and continuing to rotate the strike against the fast bowlers.

Clarke took 187 deliveries to register his century and he was especially effective against Muralitharan, using his feet well in coming forward to play handsome drives or rock back to cut hard. However he was also strong against Sri Lanka’s three fast bowlers and perhaps his best stroke was a cover drive off Vaas that found the tiny gap between fieldsmen at cover and short extra cover and raced away for four.

He was relatively restrained in the morning session until just before lunch he hinted at a more aggressive outlook by launching Muralitharan for a six over mid off and following with four over the bowler’s head from the next ball. Still he was controlled after lunch, joining Hussey in making Sri Lanka toil hard to finally break the partnership.

Hussey and Clarke were building on a Phil Jaques-inspired top order that had taken Australia to 3 for 242 at stumps on the first day. Mahela Jayawardene’s decision to field on a pitch that showed tinges of green was already questionable when only three wickets fell on day one, but his batsmen will have an even harder task after the bowlers struggled further on day two.

Source:Cricket News